Reclining article of furniture



Sept. 11, 1951 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR Anion Sept. 11, 1951 LORENZ 2,567,222

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1951 LORENZ 2,567,222

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 14/V7D/V LO/PE/VZ Ailfarny Sept. 11, 1951 LORENZ 2,567,222

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Dec. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J ATTCRNEY Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,567,222 ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Anton Lorenz, Bnfialo, Y. .A l pa i n ec b r 18, .9 5,;, e1?ial N0-6 5 23 This is a continuation-in-part of patent .E'D- I plication Ser. #558,241 relating to fiin Adjustable Resting Furniture, filed o tp r 11; 1944 and or patent application Ser. #560,553 relating to An Adjustable Reclining Eurniture," i iled means are arranged for controlling the rnovements of a leg-rest pivoted to the seat during a swinging movement of the seat from its sitting position into its reclined position and vice versa.

An object of the present invention to provide a reclining article of furniture of above 'described type with controlling meansfor the'le'grest, by means of which a change in the angle between the leg-rest and the seat may be effected during a movement of the seat from its sitting position into its reclined position and vice've'rsa.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reclining article of furniture of above described type, wherein the angle between the leg-rest and the seat is 180 or less when the seat is in its sitting position, with controll-in'gmeans for the leg-rest, by means of which such a change in the angle between the.1eg-rest andrthe seat may be efiected, that said angle is 90 for larger than 90 when the seat is in its extremereclined position.

A further object of the present invention isto provide a reclining article of furniture of ,above described typ wher i th a le bet een 311118 leg-rest and the seatis 180 or less when the-seat is in its sitting position, with controlling n Y for the leg-rest, by means of which suchachange in the angle between the leg-rest a'nd tl ie'seat may be effected, that said "angle is i80 when the seat is in its extreme reclined position.

Still another object of the r sent 'inveiitienis to provide a reclining article of fnrnitur'evof ,abb've described type, wherein the angle b tween the leg-rest and the seat is smaller th'an 18'0 w en the seat is in its sitting position, with controlling 'means for the leg-rest, by means of 'whiehisulch a change in the angle between the leg-re t and the seat may be effected, that the angle between the leg-rest and the seat is larger 'when jthe seat is in its extreme reclined position than the angle between the leg-rest and the seat when the seat is in its sitting position.

A further object of the present inyeritien is to provide a reclining article of furnitnrefof above described type, whereinthe angle between the ee-re -an th e 1 p e t when twee 6 claims. (01. 1555 -105.)

is its sitting position, with controlling means for the leg-rest, by neans of which su'cha change in the angle between the leg-rest and the seat rnayhe effected, that the angle between the-legr'e'st and the seat is smaller when the seat is in its extreme reclined position'than the angle between the leg-rest and the seat when'jthe seat is in its sitting position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a 'chaise-longue or lounget of the reclining type, wherein the back-resa'seat, and leg-rest are movable relative to each other' S tiilanother object of the presentinvention to provide a chaise-longue or lounget of the reeliei type, wh ma b e di i' q ert nt a bed l ike or couch-like furniture.

A further Object of the present invention is to il'lprev upon t e ar o l n cle Q furniture as now ordinarily made.

lvIy inventien consists in certain novel features o f eonstruction of my improvements as will be hereinafter fully described.

It is to be understood that the term effective length of a certain member ,set forth in the s ific'ation and claims means the length .oisuch fa ,memperjbetwe n its pivotal connections, 1. e. the distance between the axes of the pivots ,of said pivotal lconnections.

' The above mentioned objects and advantages as fwell as other objects and advantages 'will be more ,fully described in the following specification, reierence being had to be the accompany- "ingldrawings forming part of thisspecification, ;W 1$i 7 Fig. 1 is aside ,elevational viewof a chaiselg ngue or lounget of the reclining type according .1 1. 2. -i Y i, Q

' .;2;is a side elevational View of another ement of alounget of the reclining type ace-ie th inv nt Fig. isa sectional view of a further embodi- ;1 nen t of ;a lounget according to the invention, s a;id;sectional view being taken on line 13;'3 of Fi Fig.4 is a sectional view of the lounget shown ,in Fig.3, taken onlinefi-dof Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the locking device of the lounget shown in Fig. 1, taken on 1'ine 5.5 of Fi 1,

Fig. 6 is-a-fragmentary side elevational View of .a wportioniof the llounget shown in Fig. :1, wherein,

however, a different type of locking device is arran'gedbetween the seat ancl -the' snpport,

Fig. '7 is a sectional View taken 'on line l--'I of 'Fig. 16,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an element of the adjusting device shown in Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another element of the adjusting device shown in Fig. 10,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a reclining chair according to the invention,

Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a graphical solution for the location of the pivot between the controlling link and the support when the effective length of the controlling link is larger than the effective length of the seat,

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a graphical solution for the location of the pivot between the controlling link and the support when the efiective length of the controlling link is equal to the effective length of the seat, and i a Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating a graphical solution for the location of the pivot between the controlling link and the support when the efiective length of the controlling link is smaller than the eilective length or the seat.

Referring now to Fig. 1, l6 generally indicates the support of an article of furniture known in the trade as chaise-longue or lounget. The support has front legs I 2 and rear legs [4, the latter carrying Wheels I6.

is generally indicates a back-rest and 20 indicates a seat, the rear end of which is pivoted to said back-rest and lugs 34 of the support H! at 22. A pair of connecting links 24 and 2B is arranged on each side of the lounget. The connecting link 24 of said pair of connecting links may be called a top connecting link, which forms an arm-rest; the connecting link 26 of said pair of connecting links will be designated hereinafter as a front connecting link. The top connecting link 24 and the front connecting link 26 are pivotally connected with each other at 28. The rear end of each top connecting link is pivoted at 3G to an intermediate point of the backrest 53 above the seat 29. The lower end of each front connecting link 26 is pivoted to the front portion of the seat 28 at 32. The pivotally interconnected back-rest i8, seat 20, and pair ofof each guiding link 36 is pivoted to the support is at 38, and the upper end of each guiding link 39 is pivoted to the top connecting link 24 at 40.

According to Fig. l, the seat 20 rests on the support IE! when it occupies its horizontal sitting position as shown in full lines.

A leg-rest 42 is pivotally connected with the front portion of the seat 20 at 44. One end of a telescopic controlling link generally indicated by 48 is pivotally connected with the support It at the point 38 coinciding with the pivot point of the guiding link 36; said pivot point 38 is spaced from the pivot point 22 between the seat and the support. The other end of said telescopic controlling link 48 is pivotally connected with the leg-rest 42 at the point 50 of a lug 52 arranged on said leg-rest 42. The effective length of the movable seat 20, i. e. the distance between the pivots 22 and 44, the effective length of the movable leg-rest 42, i. e. the distance between the pivots 44 and 5B, the efiective length of the controlling link 45, i. e. the distance between the pivots 38 and 58, and the stationary portion of the support I0 between the pivots 22 and 33 form a four-link-mechanism, wherein the seat, the legrest, and the controlling link are the movable links and said portion of the support is a stationary link. When the seat 20 is in its sitting position, the angle between the leg-rest 42 and the seat 20 is The controlling link 48 serves to control the movements of the leg-rest 42, when the seat 20 is swung from its sitting position (shown in full lines) into its extreme reclinedposition (shown in dash and dot lines) and vice versa, in such a manner that a change in the angle between the leg-rest and the seat occurs during such a movement. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the pivot point 38 of the controlling link is in such a relationship to the pivot point 22 of the seat and the controlling link 48 is of such a length that the angle between the leg-rest 42 and the seat Zil is decreased when the seat is moved from its horizontal sitting position into a reclined position 26 and, during such a movement of the seat, the leg-rest is brought into the position 42.

The occupant of the lounget may readily move theseat 29 from its sitting position into the rearwardly inclined position 29 by leaning the weight of his body against the swingable back-rest I8, which is connected with the swingable seat through the pair of links 24, 26, the movements of which in turn are controlled by the guiding link 33. Thus, the back-rest and the seat may be moved in dependence on each other.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the effective length 38-5fi of the controlling link 48 is equal to the effective length 2244 of the seat, and the effective length 44-5fi of the legrest is equal to the distance 22-38 between the pivot points of the seat and the controlling link with the support, so that the pivots 22, 44, 59, 38 are arranged at the corners of a parallelogram. Therefore, the leg-rest 42 is moved through planes parallel to each other, when the seat 2* is swung about its pivot 22, and the end position 42 of the leg-rest is parallel to its initial posi tion 42.

The back-rest, seat, and leg-rest may be held in any desired reclined position l8, 2H, 42 by means of a locking device generally indicated by 6| and arranged on the pivot 32 connecting the seat 29 with the front connectin link 25. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, said locking device =3! comprises a handle 62 screwed on the threaded end of the pivot 32. Said pivot 32 has a head 63 resting against a surface of the frame of the seat 20. A square-portion 65 of the pivot 32 is inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the frame of the seat 29, whereby the pivot 32 is prevented from rotation. When the user of the lounget loosens the locking handle 52, the surface of the hub 81 of said handle is disengaged from the surface of the front connecting link 26, so that the movable members of the lounget may be freely moved from one position into another one. When the locking handle 62 is tightened, the surface of the hub of the handle engaged with the head 63 of the pivot 32, so that the members of the lounget are held in their new positions.

Of course, if desired any other type of looking device may be used instead of above described locking device Bi, for example a locking device generally indicated by 11 in Figs. 6 and '7. According to said Figs. 6 and '7, a bar 18 having a slot Bil is swingably mounted on the seat 20 at 82. A bolt 84 having a square portion 86 is inserted into a corresponding square aperture of the sup port 10, so that said bolt is prevented from rotation. The end of said bolt 84 projecting from said support It passes through the slot 8|] of the bar '18 and is provided with a threaded portion. A locking knob 88 is screwed on said threaded portion of said bolt 84. If the locking knob 88 is loosened, the bar 18 may be freely moved, so that the seat 20 and, of course, the other members of the quadrilateral link-system i8, 20, 26, 24 of the lounget shown in Fig. 1 may be brought into any desired position. If, however, the locking knob 88 is tightened, so that it urges the bar 18 against the support ill, the seat and the other members of the quadrilateral link-system are firmly held in their position, for example, a reclined position.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to change the position 42 of the leg-rest relative to the position 20 of the seat, when the latter is in a reclined position; for example, it may be desirable to bring the leg-rest into the position 42" in alignment with the reclined position 20' of the seat. In order to carry out such an operation, a set screw 54 of the telescopic controlling link 48 comprising the telescopically arranged members Stand 60 is loosened, when the seat is held in its reclined position 20 by means of the -locking device '61 (Figs. 1 and 5 or the locking device 11 (Figs. 6 and 7), whereupon the leg-rest may be swung from the horizontal position 42 into the inclined position 42" in alignment with the seat 20. When the leg-rest and seat are brought into alignment with each other, the set screw 54 of the telescopic controlling link .is tightened, so that the leg-rest is held in its position 42". If, after such an adjustment of the leg-rest relative to the seat, the members of the lounget shall be returned into the sitting position shown in full lines in Fig. l, the leg-rest is returned from the inclined position 42 into the horizontal position 42 by reducing the length of the telescopic controlling link 48, whereupon the the leg-rest is at any desired angle smaller than 180 to the seat.

According to the embodiment of a lounget shown in Fig. 1, at least one pivotal connection,

for example the pivotal connection 30 of the quadrilateral link-system i8, 20, 26, 24 is disengageable. Thus, assuming the seat 20 and the leg-rest 42 are in the horizontal position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the lounget may be readily converted into an article of furniture of the type of a bed, cot, or couch by disengaging the back-- rest l8 from the top connecting link 24 at 30 and swinging the back-rest into the substantially horizontal position l8", wherein it is held by a stop 14 arranged on the support i0. "Likewise, the back-rest could be freely swung into the position l8", if the pivotal connection 28 would be disengaged instead of or in addition to the pivotal connection 30, Furthermore, if the locking device Bl were replaced by a similar locking device arranged at a diiierent part or parts of the lounget, similar results could be obtained. by disengaging the pivotal connection .32.

As described above, the locking device 6] shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is arranged and constructed such a way, that it looks two members of the quadrilateral link-system I8, 20, 26, 24 in a desired position relative to each other. Therefore, said locking device 6| may be effective only, if none of the pivotal connections of the quadrilateral link-systern is disengaged.

On the other hand, as described above, t locking device 17 shown in Figs. 6 and '7 i5 arranged and constructed in such a way, that it looks the seat 20 relative to the support In in any desired position. Therefore, said locking device '77 may also be effective, if one or more of the pivotal connections 30, 23, 32 of the quadrilateral link-system shown in Fig. 1 are disengaged. C011 sequently, if a lounget of the type shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with a locking device 1'! according to Figs. 6 and 7 instead of the locking device 5] shown in Fig. l, the pivotal connection 30, 28 and/or 32 may be disengaged for swinging the back-rest into the substantially horizontal position I8" when the seat is locked in a reclined position 20' and the leg-rest is in a horizontal position 42 or in an inclined position, for example the position 42". Thus, the movable members of a lounget shown in Fig. 1 and equipped with a locking device 11 shown in Figs. 6 and '7 may be readily adjusted in any position relative to each other, which may be the most comfortable to the occupant of the lcunget or which may be required for the treatment of a sickness.

According to Fig. 1, the legs [2 and [4 are rigidly connected with the main body of the support [0; if desired, however, the legs may be swingably connected with said main body of the sup,- port, so that they may be folded upon said main body for a convenient carrying around and/or storing away of the lounget.

According to the embodiment of a lounget shown in Fig. 2, the back-rest 2l8 is rigidly secured to the seat 220, whereby the back-rest and the seat may be moved in dependence o Each other. According to Fig. 2, the back-rest 2l8 and the seat 220 form an integral piece generally indicated by 264. Said piece 264 is swingabiy mounted on the support 2H1 at the point 222, which may also be considered the pivot point of the seat. The leg-rest 242 pivotally connected with the front portion of the seat 226 at 224 is controlled by the telescopic controlling link 2453, one end of which is pivoted to an extension 2 6.5 of. the support 2E0 at the point 238 spaced from the pivot point 222 of the seat. The other end of said controlling link 248 is pivotally connected at 250 with a lug 252 of the leg-rest 242. The extension 266 of the support 2m forms a stop for limiting the sitting position of the seat 223] shown in full lines. Said sitting position is inclined at a slight angle to the horizontal. Again, the pivotal connection 238 of the controlling link 248 is arranged in such a relationship to the pivot 222, and the controlling link 248 is of such a length, that a change in the angle between the leg-rest 242 and the seat 220 occurs when the seat 220 is swung into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines. When the ends of the controlling link 248 are connected with the pivots 238 and 250 as shown in full lines, the pivots 222, 244,

-'-2-5'0, 238 are arranged at the corners of a parallelogram, so that the leg-rest 242 is moved through planes parallel to each other, when the seat structure 264 comprising the back-rest H8 and the seat 226 is swung into its extreme reclined position 264' limited by a stop 289 mounted on the support 2l6. Therefore, as the leg-rest 242 is in a substantially horizontal position when the seat is in its sitting position as shown in full lines, the leg-rest will be again in a substantially horizontal position 242, when the seat is in its extreme reclined position as shown in dash and dot lines.

The movable members of the lounget shown in Fig. 2 may be held in the extreme reclined position 264', 242 or in any other intermediate reclined position by means of a locking device of suitable construction, for example of the type shown in Figs. 6 and '7. In said extreme reclined position or in any other reclined position of the seat structure 264, the position of the leg-rest relative to the seat may be altered in the same manner as described above in connection with Fig. 1 by changing the effective length of the controlling link when the seat is held in such a reclined position.

Fig. 2 illustrates further adjusting means according to the invention, which are not shown in Fig. l, which are, however, applicable to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. According to Fig. 2 the support 2 It] is provided with a series of holes 268. If, for example, the leg-rest 242 shall not be moved through planes parallel to each other during a swinging movement of the member 264, the controlling link 246 may be lengthened by means of an adjustment through the medium of the set screw 254, and one end of such a lengthened controlling link 248 may be pivotally connected with one of said holes 268 by inserting the pivot therein. Of course, the holes 268 are arranged in such an area, that the pivot of the left-hand end of the controlling link 248 when inserted therein is in such a position relative to the pivot 222, that a change in the angle between the leg-rest and the seat occurs during above mentioned swinging movement, and that further the angle between the leg-rest and the seat is not smaller than 90 and not larger than 180 when the seat is in its extreme reclined position. If, for example, the right-hand end of the controlling link 248 remains pivotally connected with the lug 252 of the leg-rest 242 at 256 and the left-hand end of the controlling link 248 will be pivotally connected with the right-hand hole of the series of holes 268, and if the seat structure 264 is again moved into the extreme reclined position 264, the leg-rest will be brought into the position 242 shown in dash and dot lines. Further adjustments of this type may be obtained by pivotally connecting the right-hand endo-f the telescopic controlling link 248 with one or the other additional lugs 216 arranged on the leg-rest 242. As will be readily understood, depending on the effective length of the controlling link 248, and on the selective pivotal connection of its ends with one of the holes on the support and on the lugs of the leg-rest respectively, the angle between the leg-rest and the seat will be decreased or increased during a movement of the seat from its sitting position into its extreme reclined position. Y

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a lounget according to the invention, wherein the support 310 is made of tubular material. The lounget may be moved along the ground by means of wheels 3H5 joura .d su t bl ari a nsedat the re 75 portionof the support 3H1. The back-rest H8 is swingably mounted on the support 3l0 by means of pivots 322, which furthermore provide for a movable connection of the back-rest 316 with the rear end of the frame of the seat 320. The back-rest 3I8 has a lower extension 312 in the center of the lounget. Said extension 312 rigidly connected with the back-rest 3l8 projects downwardly beyond the pivotal connection 322 between the back-rest and the seat. A pair of connecting links 324, 326 pivotally connected with each other at 328 is arranged below the seat. The rear end of the connecting link 324 designated hereinafter as a lower connecting link is pivoted to the extension 312 of the back-rest 3"! at 336; the upper end of the connecting link 326, hereinafter called the front connecting link, is swin ably mounted on a transverse rod 332 the ends of which are connected with the frame of the seat 320. The pivotally interconnected seat 320, pair of connecting links 326, 324, and lower extension M2 or the back-rest 3E8 form the movable members of a constrained kinematic poly onal link-system in the shape of a quadrilateral link-system, which is swingably mounted on the support 3l6 at the pivot point 322 between the back-rest 313 and the seat 320 for movement about a single axis. The movements of the backrest 3H with its extension 312, the lower connecting link 324, the front connecting link 326, and the seat 326 are controlled by a guiding link 336; the lower end of said guiding link is pivoted to the lower connecting link 324 at 346, the upper end of said guiding link is swingably mounted on a transverse rod 338, the ends of which are secured to the support 3I6.

The rear end of the frame of the leg-rest 342 of the lounget shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is hinged to the front end of the frame of the seat 320 at 344. During a swinging movement of the seat 320, the movements of the leg-rest 342 are controlled by a controlling link 348; one end of said controlling link .343 is swingabl mounted on said transverse rod 336, at a point spaced from the pivot point 322 of the seat 320, the other end of said controlling link 348 is swingably connected with a transverse rod 350, the ends of which are secured to lugs 352 carried by the frame of the leg-rest 342.

In the same. manner as mentioned above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, the pivot point 338 of the controlling link 348 (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) and the effective length thereof is such, that a change in the angle between the leg-rest and the seat occurs when the seat is moved from its sitting position into its extreme reclined position. According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the distance between the axis of the pivot 322 and the axis of the pivot 344 is equal and parallel to the distance between the axis of the transverse rod 338 and the transverse rod 356. so that the leg-rest 342 is moved through planes parallel to each other.

If the user of the lounget swings the back-rest 3l8 about the pivots 322, the movable members of the lounget may be brought into the reclined position M8, 320', 342 shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. 3. The lounget may comprise locking .means, for example of the type shown in Fig. 1 or Figs. 6 and '7 or of any other suitable construction by means of which the movable members of the lounget may be held in such a. reclined position or in any other intermediate reclined position.

, According to the embodiment shown in Figs.

assuage 3 and 4, the pivotal connection between the lower extension 312 of the back-rest M8 and the lower connecting link 324 is disengageable, so that the lounget may be converted into an article of furniture of the type of a cot, couch, or bed. For such a conversion the movable members of the lounget are brought into the full line position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the seatfiZi! and the le rest 342 are in alignment with each other. After the disengagement of the pivotal connection 330, the back-rest 3l3 with its extension 312 is swun into the horizontal position 3l8", 3'l2",'where in the back-rest is in alignment with theseat and the leg-rest. The substantially horizontal position 316 of the back-rest is limited by a stop 314 in the shape of a transverse rod connecting the side frames of the support 3 I 9 with each other.

The lounget shown in Figs. 3 and 4 does not show means for varying and adjusting the eifective length of the controlling link 348, but it is understood, that the means for varying and adjusting the effective length of the controlling link as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or any other suitable means may be applied to the lounget shown in Fi s. 3 and 4.

According to the embodiment of a lounget shown in Fig. 8 the rear end of the seat 429 is pivoted to the lower end of the baok-rest 4H! and lugs 434 of the support 4H3 at422. On each side of the lounget, the rear end of a top connecting link 424 forming an arm-rest is pivoted to an intermediate point of the back-rest 418 at 439. Said top connecting link 424 is pivoted at its other end at 428 to the upper end of the front connecting link 426. The lower end of said front connecting link 426 is pivoted to the front por tion of the seat at 432. The pivotally interconnected back-rest 4l8, seat 429, and pair of connecting links 426, 424 form a quadrilateral linksystem, which is swingably mounted on the lugs 434 of the support 4!!! at the pivot point 522 between the back-rest M8 and the seat 425 for movement about a single axis. A guiding link 436 is arranged on each side of the lounget for controlling the movements of the movable members MB, 424, 425, 420 of the quadrilateral linksystem. The lower end of each guiding link 436 is pivoted to a bracing rod 4! of the support 4!!! at 438, the upper end of each guiding link 435 is pivoted to the top connecting link 424 at 449.

A leg-rest 442 is pivotally connected with the front portion of the seat 42%! at 444. The movements of said leg-rest are controlled by a controlling link 443 arranged in the center of the lounget. One end of said'controlling link is pivoted to a lug 452 on the leg-rest 442 at 455, the other end of said controlling link is bent upwardly and swingably mounted on a transverse rod 439 connecting the side frames of the support 4!!) with each other. 01: course, two. controlling links, one on each side of the lounget, could be arranged, if desired. The effective length of the seat 429, the effective length of the leg-rest 442, the effective length of the controlling link 448, and the portion of the support M9 between the pivots 422 and 439 form a four-linkmechanism, wherein the seat, the leg-rest, and the controlling link are the movable links and said portion of the support is a stationary link.

As clearly shown in Fig. 8, the effective length of v the controlling link 448 is larger than the effective length of the seat 429.

The sitting position of the movable members of the lounget shown in full lines in Fig. 8 is limited by a stop 466 mounted on the support 4| 9 for oothreaded end of said bolt 59!.

operation with the seat 429. When the seat 429 is in its sitting position, the angle between the leg-rest 422 and the seat is approximately The pivot point 439 of the controlling link 4453 is in such a relationship to the pivot point 422 of the seat, and the effective length of the controlling link 448 is such, that during a movement of the movable members of the lounget into the extreme reclined position (shown in dash and dot lines) limited by the stop 489 mounted. on the support M9 the angle between the leg-rest and the seat is increased to The movable members of the lounget may be held in any desired reclined position by means of a locking device 46! arranged on the pivot 43%. The locking device 46! may be of the type shown in Fig. 5. r

The seat 426, the top connecting link 424, the front connecting link 426, and the guiding link 435 are provided with series of holes 46! for selective engagement of the pivots 449, 423, and 438 respectively, whereby the effective length of the members of the quadrilateral link-system may be varied and adjusted. Furthermore, the lug 452 of the leg-rest is provided with a series of holes 469, so that the pivot 459 connecting the controlling link 448 with the lug 452 of the legrest 442 may be selectively engaged with one of said holes 469 for an adjustment of the angle between the leg-rest and the seat.

The stops 456 and 489 limit the extreme sitting position and extreme reclined position of the movable members of the lounget. In order to obtain a fine adjustment of a sitting position and reclined position, which may be different from the extreme positions limited by said stops 465 and 469, the adjustable stops 41! and 413 may be used. Each of said adjustable stops is in the shape of a nut threaded on threaded portions 435 and 41! respectively of the bracing rod 4! Upon a displacement of said adjustable stops 41!, 423 by rotating same, they may be brought into a position, that they cooperate with the guiding link 436 for limiting its extreme positions.

Fig. 9 illustrates a lounget wherein the rear portion of the seat 525 is pivoted to the support 5W at 522. The back-rest 5!!) of tubular material is swingably mounted on the support 5H3 at the same pivot point 522. The sitting position of the seat 529 is limited by a stop 556 mounted on the support. A connecting element 523 of tubular material forming an arm-rest is arranged on each side of the lounget. One flattened end of said connecting element 523 is connected with the seat 52!] at 533. Said connecting element 523 has elongated slots 5% at its other end. Each of said slots 593 is curved along an arc with the pivot 522 as center. As best shown in Fig. 10, a bolt 59! having a square portion 592 engaged with a corresponding square aperture of the back-rest 5l6 rests with its head 58 l against one side of the backrest 5! 6 and projects from the other side thereof. Said projecting end of the bolt 59! passes through a bore 593 of a first clamping member 595 (Figs. 10 and 11), through the slots 59!! of the tubular connecting element 523, and through a bore 596 of a second clamping member 59'! (Figs. 10 and '12). An adjusting knob 556 is screwed on the The square portion 592 of the bolt 59! engaged with the square aperture of the back-rest 5l8 prevents the bolt 59! from rotation when the adjusting knob 533 is turned. As best shown in Fig. 11, the first clamping member 595 has a curved surface 599 fitting the curvature of the tubular member 11 forming the back-rest i 8 and has a curved surface 600 fitting the curvature of the tubular connecting element 523. Furthermore, as best shown in Fig. 12, the second clamping member 59! has a curved surface 60! fitting the curvature of the tubular connecting element 523 and a straight surface 502 for engagement with a corresponding straight surface of the adjusting knob 598. tightened, the back rest 5!8 is rigidly connected with the connecting element 523 at a predetermined angle relative to the seat 520. Now, when the back-rest 5I8 is swung into a reclined position, for example the extreme reclined position 5! 8' shown in dash and dot lines, the connecting element 523 swings the seat 520 into the reclined position 520' without any change in the angle between the back-rest and the seat.

If it is desired to have a larger angle between the back-rest and the seat than the angle between said members as shown in full lines, the adjusting knob 598 is loosened, whereupon the bolt 59! may freely be displaced along the curved slots 590, so that the back-rest may be displaced relative to the connecting element 523 and the seat 529. When the desired angular position between the back-rest and the seat is obtained, the adjusting knob 598 is again tightened, so that the backrest is again rigidly connected with the connecting element 523 and the seat 520. If, for example, the back-rest 5!!! is displaced relative to the seat 520 into such a position that the bolt 59! abuts against the extreme left-hand end of the slots 590, the back-rest will be in the position 5!8" shown in dash and dot lines, when the seat is in the reclined position 520'.

The leg-rest 542 pivoted to the front portion of the seat 520 at 544 is controlled by a controlling link 548. One end of said controlling link is pivoted to the leg-rest 542 at 550, the other end of said controlling link is pivoted to the support at 539 at a point spaced from the pivot 522. During a movement of the seat from the sitting position into the reclined position and vice versa, the controlling link 549 controls the movement of the leg-rest 542 relative to the seat. The effective length of the seat 520, the effective length of the leg-rest 542, the effective length of the controlling link 548, and the portion of the support 5I0 between the pivots 522 and 539 form a four-link mechanism wherein the seat, the legrest, and the controlling link are the movable links and said portion of the support is a stationary link. As clearly shown in Fig. 9, the effective length of the controlling link 548 is smaller than the effective length of the seat 520.

Fig. 13 illustrates a reclining chair according to the invention. The lower end of the backrest 6!8 is pivoted to the support 6! 0 at 62!. The rear end of the seat 620 is pivoted to the support 6!0 at the point 622 spaced from the pivot point 62!. The rear end of a top connecting link 624 is pivoted to an intermediate point of the backrest (H8 at 630. The other end of said top connecting link 624 is pivotally connected with the upper end of the front connecting link 625 at the point 628. The lower end of said front connecting link is pivoted to the seat at 632. The back-rest 6I8, the top connecting link 634, the front connecting link 625 and the seat 620 form the movable members, and the portion of the support between the pivots 62! and 622 forms the stationary member of a constrained kinematic polygonal link-system in the shape of a quinquelateral link-system. The movements of said link-system are controlled by a guiding link Thus, when the adjusting knob 598 is 12 636, the upper end of which is pivoted to the top connecting link 624 at 628, and the lower end of which is pivoted to the support 9 0 at 638. The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 666 mounted on the support 6!!! for cooperation with the seat 626, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 689 arranged on the support for cooperation with the guiding link 636. I

A leg-rest 642 is pivoted to the seatv 620 at 644. One end of a controlling link 648 is pivoted to said leg-rest 642 at 650, the other end of said controlling link is pivoted to the support 6!!) at the point 639 spaced from the pivot point 522 of the seat. The pivot point 639 is arranged in such a manner and the controlling link 648 is of such a length, that the angle between the legrest and the seat is smaller than when the seat is in the sitting position shown in full lines, and that said angle is increased to approximately when the seat is in the extreme reclined position shown in dash and dot lines. Again, the effective length of the seat 620, the effective length of the leg-rest 642, the effective length of the controlling link 648, and the portion of the support 6!!) between the pivots 522 and 639 form a four-link-mechanism, wherein the seat, the leg-rest, and the controlling link are the movable link and said portion of the support is a stationary link.

The support is provided with a series of holes 668. The pivot 639 may be selectively inserted into one of said holes 668 for an adjustment of the angle between the leg-rest and the seat.

Above described Figs. 1-4, 8, 9 and 13 illustrate loungets and a reclining chair with a control for the leg-rest comprising a controlling link, one? end of which is pivoted to the leg-rest, and the other end of which is pivoted to the support. Said controlling link is a movable link of a fourlink-mechanism comprising the effective length of the movable leg-rest and the effective length of the movable seat as further movable links and the portion of the stationary support between the pivot points of the seat and the controlling link as a stationary link. The sitting position angle between the leg-rest and the seat, i. e. the angle between the leg-rest and the seat when the seat is in its sitting position which may be in the horizontal plane or may be slightly inclined to the horizontal plane, is smaller than 181 according to Figs. 1 and 3, smaller than 180 according to Figs. 2, 8 and 9, and smaller than 90 according to Fig. 13). The controlling link is of such an effective length and the pivot point between the controlling link and the support is at such a location, that the reclined position angle between the leg-rest and the seat, 1. e. the angle between the leg-rest and the seat when the seat is in its extreme reclined position, is not smaller than 90 and not larger than 180.

Figs. 1416 show diagrams illustrating a graphical solution for locating the pivot point between the controlling link and the support within a certain area, so that above mentioned reclined position angle between the leg-rest and the seat amounts to a value between 90 and 180. In said Figs:

a indicates the effective length of the seat, b indicates the effective length of the leg-rest,

0 indicates the effective length of the controlling link.

indicates the pivot point between the seatand the support,

A indicates the pivot point between the seat and the leg-rest,

B indicates the pivot point between the leg-rest and the controlling link,

C indicates the pivot point between the controlling link and the support,

0. indicates the sitting position angle between the leg-rest and the seat, and

11' indicates the reclined position angle between the leg-rest and the seat.

According to Fig. 14, the length c of the controlling link is larger than the length d of the seat.

According to Fig. 15, the length c of the controlling link is equal to the length a of the seat.

According to Fig. 16, the length 0 of the controlling link is smaller than the length a of the seat.

The following has reference to each of the diagramsillustrated by Figs. 14, 15, and 16. The plane area AR, wherein the pivot point C may be located for obtaining a reclined position angle a of a value between 90 and 180, may be found as follows:

A horizontal line OE" of a length a b or CA" A"E" is laid through the pivot point 0. A straight line OA of the length d is laid through said pivot point 0 at an angle [8 representing the angle of the seat relative to the horizontal in its sitting position. For example said angle Bmay be 3. A straight line OE of the length a b or CA A'E' is laid through said pivotpoint O.

at an angle 5' representing the angle of the seat relative to the horizontal in its extreme reclined position. For example, said angle [3 may be 45. A 90 auxiliary are cur, or RF is drawn with a radius Tlb of the length b about the point A on said straight line OE from the point E at the end of said straight line. A first are an, is drawn with a radius TIC of the length 0 of the controlling link about said point E at the end of said straight line OE, a second arc a2 is drawn with a radius T20 of the length o of the controlling link about the point F at the end of said 90 auxiliary are won, and a third are as is drawn with a radius rec of the length 0 of the controlling link about the point E at the end of the horizontal line OE". The are or intersects with the arc cm at the point G, the are as intersects with the are as at the point H, and the are (13 intersects with the are an at the point K. The area GHK or AR confined by the arcs on, as, and (to is the desired locus of point C to satisfy the conditions outlined'above. The point C may be placed anywhere within said area AR. An are :1: is drawn with the radius 0 about the chosen point C located within said area AR, and an are 11 is drawn with the radius 11 about the point A at the end of the line CA. Said arcs a: and y intersect with each other at the point B. OA, AB, BC represent the movable links, and CO represents the stationary link of the fourlink-mechanism, when the seat is in its sitting position; a is the sitting position angle between the leg-rest and the seat. 0A, AB', BC represent the movable links, and CO represents the stationary link of the four-link-mechanism, when the seat is in its extreme reclined position; a is the reclined position angle between the leg-rest and the seat.

As mentioned above, the point C may be placed anywhere within the area AR. When said point C is placed along the are an, the reclined positionangle a will be 130. When said point C is placed along the are as the reclined position angle a will be Furthermore, the closer said point C is placed to the are m, the larger will be the reclined position angle 0..

Moreover, depending on the particular location of the point C in said area AR, the reclined position angle a will be larger than or equal to or smaller than the sittin position angle a. When said point C is placed above the curved d, the reclined position angl a will be larger than the sitting position angle a. When said point C is placed along said curve d, the reclined position angle a is equal to the sitting position angle a. When said point C is placed below said curve d, the reclined position angle alpha a is smaller than the sitting position angl a. Said curve cl may be found as follows:

A second 90 auxiliary arc auz is drawn with a radius T2?) of the length b about the point A on the horizontal line 0 from the point E at the end of said horizontal line. The first 90 auxiliary are (mi, and the second 90 auxiliary arc auz are then divided into corresponding divisional arcs, so that the divisional arc EL' is equal to the divisional arc EL", the divisional arm L'M is equal to the divisional arc L"M, the divisional arc MN is equal to the divisional arc M"N", and the divisional arm N'F' is equal to the divisional arm N"F". A first series of curve constructing arcs is drawn with a radius of the length 0 of the controlling link about the series of spaced points E, L, M, N, F, and a second series of curve constructing arcs is drawn with a radius of the same length 0 about the series of spaced points E", L, M", N", F". Said first series of curve constructing arcs intersects with said second series of curve constructing arcs at the points of intersection K, L, M, N, F. A line drawn through said points of intersection K, L, M, N, F represents the curve d.

As may be gathered from Figs. 14, 15, and 16, the controlling link is of such a length 0 and the point C is spaced from the point 0 at such a location, that the pivot B between the controlling link and the leg-rest is moved along an are :1: being outside the are 2 alon which the pivot A between the seat and the leg-rest is moved during a movement of said seat from its sitting position into its extreme reclined position and vice versa.

According to Fig. 15, the locus of the point C within the area AB is chosen in such a manner, that the distance 0C is equal and parallel to the length I) when the seat is in its sitting position.

- Furthermore, the length 0 is equal to the length a, so that c is parallel to a, when the seat is in its sitting position. Therefore, the position of the leg-rest, when the seat is in its extreme recline position, is parallel to the position of the leg-rest, when the seat is in its sitting position. The reclined position angle a is smaller than the sittin position angle a.

The graphical solution described in connection with Figs. 1416 may be applied to any of the constructions shown in Figs. 1-4, 8, 9, and 13 and may likewise be applied to any other construction with different dimensions of the various members of a reclining chair or the like of a type according to the present invention.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, that the invention will also be applied to various other types of furniture, such as chairs for use in railroad cars, chairs for use in airplanes, etc., and that various omissions and changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A reclining article of furniture comprising a support, a structure including a seat, a backrest and means connecting said back-rest with said seat for controlling the movements of said back-rest and said seat in dependence on each other, the seat of said structure being swingably mounted on said support for movements from a sitting position into an extreme reclined position, limiting means arranged on said support for limiting the sittin position of the elements of said structure, a leg-rest, said leg-rest being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, and a controlling link, one end of said controlling link being pivoted to said leg-rest, the other end of said controlling lirl: being pivoted to said support at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, the effective lengths of said movable seat, said movable leg-rest, said movable controlling link, and the stationary portion of said support between the pivotal connections with said seat and said controlling link forming a four-link-mechanism, and the effective length of said controlling link being such that the pivot between the controllin link and the leg-rest is moved along an are being outside the are along which the pivot between the seat and the leg-rest is moved during a movement of said seat from its sitting position into its extreme reclined position.

2. A reclining article of furniture comprising a support, a structure including a seat, a back-rest and means connecting said back-rest with said seat for controlling the movements of said backrest and said seat in dependence on each other, the seat of said structure being swingably mounted on said support for movements from a sitting position into an extreme reclined position, limiting means arranged on said support for limiting the sitting position of the elements of said structure, a leg-rest, said leg-rest being pivoted to the front portion of said seat, and a controlling link, one

' end of said controlling link being pivoted to said leg-rest, the other end of said controlling link being pivoted to said support at apoint spaced from the pivotal connection between the seat and the support, the efiective lengths of said movable seat, said movable leg-rest, said movable controlling link, and the stationary portion of said support between the pivotal connections with said seat and said controlling link forming a fourlink-mechanism, the eifective length of said controlling link being such that the pivot between the controlling link and the leg-rest is moved along an arc being outside the are along which the point between the seat and the leg-rest is moved during a movement of said seat from its sitting position into its extreme reclined position, the sitting position angle between said leg-rest and said seat being smaller than 181 when the seat is in its sitting position, and said pivotal connection between said controlling link and said support being located in such a position that the reclined position angle between said leg-rest and said seat amounts to a value between'90 and when the seat is in its extreme reclined position.

3. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, said means connecting the back-rest with the seat being disengageable so as to permit a swinging of the back-rest into a substantially horizontal position independently of the seat, and holding means arranged on the support for holding said back-rest in said substantially horizontal position.

4. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, said means connecting the back-rest with the seat bein disengageable so as to permit a swinging of the back-rest and the seat independently of each other into a substantially horizontal position, and holding means arranged on the support for holding said back-rest, said seat and said leg-rest in a substantially horizontal position substantially in alignment with each other.

5. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, said back-rest being rigidly connected with said seat.

6. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 1, said means connectin the back-rest with the seat including a connecting element connected with the back-rest and the seat at spaced points, at least one of the connections of said connecting element being adjustable whereby the angle between the back-rest and the seat may be adjusted at a predetermined degree.

ANTON LORENZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 652,801 Moore July 3, 1900 782,335 Harvey Feb. 14, 1905 2,227,597 Luckhardt et al. Jan. 7, 1941 2,468,765 Lorenz May 3, 1949 2,474,264 Lorenz June 28, 1949 

